Permanent fastening for t shape handles



Dec. l1, 1934. C, w, HALSEQ E1- AL 1,984,350

PERMANEA'NT FASTENING FOR 'I SHAPE HANDLES Filed July 30, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec- 11, l934 c. w. HALsEY ETAL PERMANENT FASTENING FOR T SHAPE HANDLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z vw u. 7.

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O b a., l f A? 7 which are intended to be pushed and Patented` Dec. 11, 1934 PATENT OFFICE PERMANENT FASTENING FOR T SHAPE HANDLES Charles W. Halsey and Fred Kunath, Evansville, Ind.

Application July 30, 1932, Serial No. 626,980

7 Claims.

This invention relates to fastenings for securing the grip to the tongue of a T-shape handle such, for instance, as provided for lawn-k mowers and other tools, appliances, or machines pulled by the operator.

Grips for handles of the foregoing character in the course of time become loose and troublesome, due to the strains and stresses on ,the fastening which connects the handle grip to the tongue, even though nuts and bolts be employed,as has been done in constructions heretofore known to the art.

Our object is to provide an improved permanent fastening for T-shape handles, and a new method for itsassembly, which insures a permanently rigid connection between the grip and the tongue that will effectively resist all tendency toward looseness for an indenite period of time.

Our improved fastening embodies a doubled or re-bent metal strap Whose looped or intermediate part straddles the grip vand whose legs are disposed on opposite sides of the tongue, and a cross securing member which passes through the legs and through the tongue, the abutting surfaces of the grip andthe end of the tongue cooperating in a manner preventing twisting of the grip within the looped part of the strap.

The new method by which the foregoing construction is made, involves the application of the cross fastening to the metal strap in such man-- ner that the act of assembling the grip, tongue, and strap places the wood under compression, preferably to the extent of deforming the wood to bring about the interlocked relationship of the grip and tongue. y

Preferably, the improved construction embodies, as an additional feature, the interlocking of the sides of the strap with the sides" of the tongue and in that respect embraces the interlocking of the sides of the strap with depressed parts of the tongue. y

To carry out the additional improvement which is described, the new method of manufacture involves, additional to the method above described, the further step of embossing depressions in the sides of the strap to cause-them to interlock with the sides of the tongue. This step occurs subsequently to the step of applying the fastening and further tightens the strap and compresses the wood to improve the permanency of the fastening.

We prefer to connect the sides or legs of the strap to the tongue by tubular rivets which are `headed down at both ends but it is within the spirit of the construction and of the method to employ a. solid rivet for that purpose.

Preferably, the grip is reduced in size where the doubled or re-bent strap straddles it, thereby providing shoulders on the grip which Labut the edges of the strap.

It will be understood that in respect to the fastening, we claim the construction with, or Without, the embossed interlocking connection betweenk the legs of the strap and the sides of the tongue and that we claim our method, whether or not it includes the nal step of embossing the legs ofthe strap to effect further compression of the Wood and the interlocking of the ,strap with the tongue. f

Practical embodiments of ourr permanent fastening and of the method for its production are hereinafter described and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, ,ink which: K

- Figure` 1 illustrates the first step of the method of. assembly, the strap being in its original form, assembled with the tongue andvgrip;

Fig. 2 illustrates the second step of the method, the tubular rivet'having been passed through the strap `and tongue, preparatory to the nal step illustratedin Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 illustrates the third, and nal, step of the method by which the tubular rivet is headed down, the embossing operation is performed, and the 'grip compressed, the sectional showing of the complete' handle being as though taken on the line 3-`3,' Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the finished fastening provided by the step shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a section showing the completed fastening as produced by the complete method;

Figs. 6 and 7 are views like Fig. 5, illustrating modifications in the form of the grip and tongue; and

Fig. 8 is a similar view illustrating a modification adapted for knock-down or export shipments, involving the use of removable fastenings, such as bolts. l

The invention is shown and described in connection with a T shape handle of a lawn mower but it' will be understood that We do not limit the construction and `method to this particular use, as the inventiony is applicable to any T shape handle.

The end of the tongue appears at 1 and the grip `is shown at 2, the latter being provided with a reduced part 3 which is flanked by shoulders 4, the provision of which prevents any sliding of the fastening lengthwise of the grip 2, as will presently appear.

The end part of the tongue 1 is provided with recesses 5, usually grooves extending crosswise of the tongue to receive the embossed or bent parts of the fastening strap.

The tongue is also provided with a transverse hole 6 to receive the cross fastening, preferably a tubular rivet, to secure the fastening strap to the tongue.

The fastening strap 7 is originally of the U shape disclosed in Fig. 1, being provided with holes 8 which are so positioned that when the tongue, grip, and strap are originally assembled, the holes 8 will be out of alignment with the hole and located nearer to the grip 2 than the hole 6. The purpose of this construction is to provide for a drawing and compressing action on the reduced part 3 of the grip 2 as a result of the method of assembly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, subsequently described.

While the completed assembly is illustrated in each of the forms shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7, it will be understood that the initial cross sectional shape of the reduced part 3 may vary from the true circular form shown in Fig. 1 which subsequently assumes the compressed shape shown in Figs. 3 and 5, to the more or less egg shape of the embodiment of Fig. 6.

When the initial cross sectional shape of the part 3 is circular as in Fig. 1, the finished shape thereof is flattened, due to compression of the wood, as shown at Qin Figs. 3 and 5. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the end of the tongue 1 is fiat, as shown at 10. The abutting faces 9, 10 prevent any turning or twisting of the grip 2 within the loop of the strap 7.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 6, the rounded projecting part 9 of lthe part 3, is received in a rounded depression 10 in the end of the tongue 1, resulting in an interlock which prevents any turning or twisting of the grip.

In Fig. 7, the part 3 is received in a notched groove 10 in the tongue 1. In all forms described, an interlock is provided between the grip 2 andthe tongue 1 which effectively prevents any twisting of the grip 2.

The legs or sides of the initially il shaped strap 7 lie against the iiat sides of the tongue 1 and when the assembly has been completed by the method hereinafter described, the legs are firmly clamped to the opposite flat sides of the tongue 1 by a tubular rivet 11 whose ends y are headed down against the compressed legs, as

shown at 12.

In order to materially increase the security of the fastening, the legs are embossed, bent, or forced into the grooves 5, as shown at 13, bringing about a shortening of the distance between the tubular rivet and the back side of the grip 2.

We are well aware. however, that a very secure fastening may be had without resort to the grooves and the embossed or bent parts 13 and it is to be understood that in its broadest aspect, our invention is not limited to the provision of the supplemental embossing provided at 5 and 13, although we prefer to provide such embossing. A very secure and satisfactory permanent joint may be provided without this embossing, particularly in view of the compression of the part 3 of the grip 2, which results in the change of contour of the part 3 from its original shape to the compressed shapes shown vin Figs. 5, 6, 7.

The constructionl shown in Fig. 8 is a modification wherein no compression of the part 3 is brought about such as will distort it and this form is not made according to the method hereinafter described. In lieu of a tubular rivet such as shown at 11, a bolt 14 and nut i5 are provided, the bolt passing through the hole in the tongue and the holes 3 in the strap 7.

Another bolt 16 having a nut 17, passes through holes 13 in the legs of strap 7 and is located between the reduced part 3 and the flat end of the tongue 1. On tightening the nut 17, the bolt 16 is drawn up to bend or force or deform the strap from its original shape into the grooves 5 which are provided in the sides of the tongue 1 at the attened end thereon, thus providing an interlock at this point which corresponds to the interlock effected by the grooves 5 and the embossed parts 13, previously described.

The construction shown in Fig. 8 is particularly adapted for use for knock-down or export shipments where it is inexpedient to ship an assembled tongue and grip.

Figs. 1, 2, 3 illustrate the method by which the construction heretofore described, is assembled. The complete method includes the final step of embossing the strap at 13 (Fig. 3) which brings about an additional compression of the grip 2 but, as previously explained, the method may stop short of the final step of embossing shown in Fig. 3, although the permanency of the fastening is not as great as when the final embossing step is performed. We do not, therefore, limit the method to the inclusion of the final step of embossing as shown in Fig. 3 in certain of our claims, it being our intention to claim the method with, or without, the nal step of embossing.

The method may be carried out on a suitable die press provided with a punch or die holder 19 which carries a driving die block 20 (Figs. 1 and 2). The die block 2O has a bore 22 which receives the stem 23 of a removable pilot whose enlarged conoidal tip 24 is slightly smaller than the holes 6 and 8. Ihe stem 23 has a circumferential'rounded or bevelled groove 25, which receives a ball 26 located in a cavity 27 in the die block subject to the action of a coil spring 28 which is held under compression by ascrew cap 29. The means described removably retains the pilot in the bore 22 but permits it to be stripped out of the die block 20 after the tubular rivet 11 has been driven in place. IIhis action follows immediately after the completion of this operation, as illustrated in Fig. 2, at the time when the punch holder 19 rises, the pilot then falling through the hole 30 in the die shoe or anvil 31.

Thereafter, the method is completed by the operation illustrated in Fig. 3.

The U shape strap 7, when in its initial form shown in Fig. 1, is rst applied to the reduced part 3 of the grip 2 in straddling relationship to the end of the tongue 1. The reduced part 3 is then in abutment with the flat end 10 of the tongue 1 and the holes 8 are so positioned that they are offset in relation to the hole 6. A tubular rivet 11 having first been slipped over the stem 23 of the removable pilot, the stem is pressed into the bore 22, whereupon the ball 26 snaps into the groove 25. The rivet 11 is then held between the conoidal tip 24 and the die block 20.

The parts to be assembled having been placed on the die shoe 31 with the holes 8 aligned with the bore or `hole 30 in said dieshoe, the press is operated, whereupon the pilot descends and its conoidal tip 24 enters the uppermost hole 8 in the Astrap 7. The tongue, grip, and strap being securely held in the press, against lateral shifting, the following action occurs: the tip 24 and the tubular rivet 11 draw upon the strap, du'e to the offset relationship of the holes 8 and the hole 6, which results in compression of the reduced part 3 of the grip 2 and the bringing of 'the holes 8 into register with the hole 6, thus compressing the reduced part 3, as shown at 9, Fig. 5. If the cross sectional shape of the part 3 is as shown in Figs. 6, 7, a similar compression occurs, bringing about an interlock between thc tongue and the part 3 such as will prevent any turning of the grip 2 in the strap 7.

The pilot finally passes through the holes 8 and 6 and its tip` 24 enters the hole 30 in the die shoe 31.

The rivet having been driven, the assembled tongue 1, grip 2, strap 7, and rivet 11 are subjected to the final step of the method, as illustrated in Fig. 3, to crimp or head-down on the strap the ends of the rivet as shown at 12 and form the embossings 13 by pressing the sides of the strap ll into the grooves 5, thus further compressing the wood of the tongue 1 and the part 3 of the grip 2.v

To carry out this final step, there are provided the rivet crimping punches 3,3, 34 carried by the punch holder 35 and die shoe 36, re-

spectively which crimp the ends 12 of the rivet l1 down against the legs of the strap 7. The embossings 13 are formed by the action of the embossing blocks or dies 36, 37, respectively carried by the punch holder 35 and die shoe 36. Suitable spring-cushioned pressure pads 37, 38, carried by the holder 35 and shoe 36 are adapted to grip the ends of the strap legs when the crimping and embossing operation is being carried on.

The embossing operation, by shortening the distance between the center of the rivet and the back side of the grip, effects a further compression of the wooden grip and tongue, thus most effectively connecting the parts and giving a.

final setting to the entire assembly.

If the embossing operation is not carried on simultaneously with the crimping operation, it may be performed as a subsequent, separate, operation, or, embossing may be entirely omitted.

It is to be understood that we claim the method` with or without the embossing operation and that if the embossing operation is effected, such operation may be simultaneous with the crimping operation or take place subsequent to the crimping operation.

The embossing operation affords a joint or fastening between the grip and the tongue which has greater permanency than is obtainable if the embossing operation be omitted but at the same time we wish it understood that a joint of great permanency is to be had, even though the embossing operation be omitted.

What we claim is:

1. In a permanent fastening for T shape handles, the combination with a tongue, of a grip of a compressible material disposed crosswise of the tongue, a strap of general U shape embracing the grip and having its legs straddling the end of the tongue, said legs and said tongue having holes which are out of register when the grip, strap, and tongue are originally assembled preparatory to being permanently fastened together, and a cross fastening forcibly introduced` through the non-registering holes in the strap and tongue, and being applied after the original assembly of the grip, strap, and tonguel and'passing through the legs of the strap and through the ytongue, thereby drawing the strap compressbly against the grip and setting up a tension on the grin-whereby the grip is corn-v pressed against the tongue.

2. In ai permanent fastening for T shape handles, thev combination with a tongue, of a grip disposed crosswise of the tongue, a strap of general U shape embracing the grip and having its legs straddling the end of the tongue, said tongue being provided with depressions, and the legs of said strap havingcontracted parts which engage the depressions in the tongue, and

a cross fastening passing through the legs of the strap and through the tongue, said straps being adapted to be forced into said depressions, thereby to set up a tension upon the grip.

3. In a permanent fastening for T shape handles, the combination with a tongue, of a grip disposed crosswise of the tongue, a strap of general U shape embracing the grip and having its legs straddling the end of the tongue, said tongue having depressions, and the legs of said strap being contracted to provide parts which interlock with said depressions, and a fastening passing through the legs andk through the tongue, the legs of said strap being adapted to be forced toward each other to cause the aforesaid parts to enter the aforesaid depressions.

4. In a permanent fastening for T shape handles, the combination with a tongue, `of a grip disposed crosswise of the end of the tongue, said grip and tongue having interlocked abutting faces, a substantially U shape strap embracing the grip and having its legs straddling the end of the tongue, said tongue having depressions and said strap and legs having contracted parts which interlock with said depressions brought about by the compressive application of the strap to the grip and tongue, anda cross fastening kconnecting the legs of the tongue.

5. In a permanent fastening for T shape handles, the combination with a tongue and a grip which extends crosswise thereof in abutting relationship thereto, of a strap embracing ythe grip and connected to the tongue, said tongue and strap having holes which are out of register when the grip, strap, and tongue are originally assembled preparatory to being permanently fastened together, said strap being compressibly applied `to the grip by a cross fastening forcibly introduced through the non-registering holes in the` strap and tongue after the original assembly of the grip, strap, and tongue, thereby bringing said holes into registration and drawing and holding the grip in compressed condition in abutting contact with the tongue, whereby sufficient tension is set up in the strap to effect deformation of the grip where it abuts the end of the tongue, thereby preventing movement of the grip in relation to the tongue.

- 6. In a permanent fastening for T shape handles, the combination with a tongue and a grip which extends crosswise thereof in abutting relationship thereto, of a strap embracing the grip and connected to the tongue, said strap being compressively applied to the grip, thereby holding the grip in compressed condition in abutting contact with the tongue, and preventing movement of the grip in relation to the tongue, said tongue and strap having interlocked parts additional to the connection between the strap and the tongue, said interlocked. parts preventing diseonnection of the strap from the tongue.

7. In a permanent fastening for T shape handles, the combination With a tongue, of a grip disposed crosswise of the tongue, said grip and tongue having interlocked abutting faces, a substantially U shape strap embracing the grip land having legs which straddle the end of the tongue, said tongue and legs of said strap having holes which are out of register when the grip, strap, and tongue are originally assembled preparatory to being permanently fastened together, a fastening forcibly introduced into both of the said non-registering holes after the original assembly of the grip, strap and tongue as aforesaid, thereby forcibly bringing said holes into registration and permanently fastening and holding the grip in drawn or compressed engagement Wth the tongue.

CHARLES W. HALSEY. FRED W. KUNATI-I. 

